AN: Last chapter. *sob sob* I hope y'all enjoyed it. To be honest, this being my first story, I found it kinda hard to write. Some chapters were easier than others. Some were not. I want to give a special shout-out to cjunited38. Thank you for being such a kind reviewer and for your support! Thank you to all those who stuck with me through ten chapters! Hope this chapter is good. Enjoy! :)
Jane took a deep breath before entering the room. Maura lay surrounded by various tubes and monitors. Her eyes fell on the recumbent figure that looked so dwarfed by all the instruments surrounding her. Jane walked slowly to Maura's side and sat down on the provided stool. Maura was awake, and turned to look over at her visitor. "Hey, Jane." Maura's voice rasped.
Jane smiled and reach for Maura's hand. "Hey, Maur." Tears started to trickle down Jane's cheek. "Maura, Maura, I was so scared when I found you. I thought that I could have nearly lost you."
For a moment, there was a silence, before the dam in Jane's heart broke. She buried her face into the blanket near Maura's side and sobbed her soul out. She cried for all the times that she had kept her feelings locked up in that Pandora's Box of hers.
She cried for all the nagging thoughts that she had pushed into a corner of her mind and suppressed it there.
She cried for all the tears that she had not allowed herself to shed.
Maura gingerly brought her hand to Jane's back and curls soothingly patting her and brushing her fingers through Jane's hair.
After a while, when Jane's tears had subsided, Maura quietly asked, "You okay, Jane? Wanna tell me about it?"
Jane hiccupped a few times before she calmed down enough to reply. "Maura, I love you. I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOU! I am so sorry it took this to make me realise what a fool I am. I thought I had all the time to sit down and thoroughly think over every little aspect when, in my heart, I already knew. It was staring right into my face. I am so sorry it took this for me to accept that I do love you. I am such a fool, Maura."
"Ssshhh…Jane, look at me." Jane lifted her tear stained face to look into Maura's compassionate hazel eyes. "It's okay. It was partly my fault too. I was making for you to make the move, which I could have made too. Don't give yourself all the blame. Plus, I didn't tell you where I was going because I was still mad at you."
"Oh, Maura. That's how you are. Kind, compassionate, always willing to be the one who comforts people. Even if it means giving someone your kidney." Jane quipped.
Maura grinned, causing a small flash of pain to cross her beaten face. She was glad that Jane was starting to perk up a little. She hesitated to say what was on her mind, but, doggone it if they were going to wait for each other to make a move.
"Jane, I know this is going to either sound real cheesy of plain weird, however, starting from this moment onwards, would you be my girlfriend?"
Jane's face split into a wide grin. She covered Maura's hand with both of hers. "Yes, Maura. I will be yours, and you will be mine." she paused for a while. "Maura, can I kiss you? I won't hurt you, will I?"
"Jane, shut up and do it."
"So bossy." Jane chuckled. She stood up, leaned over, and claimed Maura's lips for her own.
ONE MONTH LATER
Maura made a smooth road to recovery, especially since she had Jane acting as her 'nurse'.
Christopher Johnson, already defeated, confessed and was convicted of both Marianne's and Claire's murder. And, also, the kidnapping of a chief medical examiner. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Mrs. Johnson nearly had a heart attack when she found out what her husband had done. However, she was a strong woman and picked herself up. She decided not to remarry and instead, she sold her house, bought a smaller one, and spent more time at her children's house, playing an important influence on her grandchildren.
Max Chaitin was released after serving his time, his sentence being reduced when he witnessed against Christopher. He gradually went into drug abuse, was arrested a few times, and ultimately died of a drug overdose about half a year after all these events.
Jane and Maura, well, let's just say that their relationship was upgraded to a whole new level. Both their sets of parents were already expecting this and were not surprised when both the girls came out. Angela was especially ecstatic and immediately badgered them about grandchildren. In the police department, money changed hands several times as several of Jane and Maura's colleagues had placed different bets.
Jane popped down to the morgue. Today marked a month after Maura was kidnapped and the day they had officially became a couple. Jane wanted to bring Maura out for a special dinner date.
"Maur, are you almost done? We can go once you are." Jane hollered.
"Almost. Just a few more seconds." Maura's voice came from the office where she was finishing a report. Jane stepped in just as Maura signed her name at the bottom of the paper.
"By the way, I would like to stop by a cemetery. Visit a, uh, friend." Jane said.
Maura quirked an eyebrow. But decided not to tease. "Sure, anything Jane."
As they both reached the grave yard, Jane cleared her throat and turned to Maura. "I hope you don't mind if I go alone? I would like a little quiet moment."
"Not at all, dear. I'll just wait for you here." Maura replied as she leaned over and quickly pecked Jane on the cheek.
Jane took the white rose that she had brought along, got out of the car and walked down the row of tombstones, looking for one in particular. At last, she came to a stop at the name "Claire Holloway."
She laid the rose down. "Claire, I just wanted to come here and thank you. That little part you shared about Marianne opened my eyes. You made me realise things that I had chosen to ignore. In a way, you and Marianne were the ones that started the ball rolling, unlocked the things that I had compartmentalize into different areas of my heart and mind, and affected my life. Thank you so much, Claire. And I also want to tell you that we managed to put away that murderer. May you now rest in peace."
Jane stood up with her head bowed for a moment before walking back to the car. Back to my Maura.
The end
PS: I'm thinking of working on another one that is set during the Civil War. Started the first chapter already and am seeing how it turns out. If I like it and can continue it, I'll be sure to post it up!